Clothes-line prop and tightener.



0. R. OLSON.

GLOTHES LINE PROP AND TIGHTENER.

APPLIUATION FILED 8313123, 1908 Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLOF R. OLSON, OF KANSASGITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE P. OLSON, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CLOTHES-LINE PROP AND TIGHTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 23, 1908.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Serial No. 454,460.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Own R. OLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Clothes- Line Props and Tighteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined clothes line prop and tightener and my object is to produce a device of this character which will accommodate itself to the degree of slackness in the line and which will hold the latter under tension and support it at the proper height efficiently and reliably.

A further object is to produce a device of this character of simple, strong, durable and cheap construction.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper end of a combined clothes line prop and tightener embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line III-III of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of a modified form of the line-engaging head of the prop.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates a prop of suitable length and preferably rectangu lar in cross section. A head for the prop consists of a pair of inverted substantially shield-shaped plates forming sides 2 and 3 arranged parallel or substantially so and provided respectively at their cone-ave edges with inwardly projecting arc-shaped flanges 4t and 5, which abut together and are bent in opposite directions to form a pair of outwardly opening grooves 6. 7 indicates correspondingly curved plates fitting against said flanges and having their edges bent to form inwardly projecting tongues 8 extend ing into said groove and rigidly and reliably securing the sides 2 and 3 together, the upper ends of the sides preferably diverging slightly to provide a flaring mouth 9 and side 3 being bifurcated at its lower end to, produce the opening 10.

The head described is preferably secured rigidly to the upper end of the prop 1 by means of rivets 11 extending through side 2 and the prop.

The modified construction of the head, I as disclosed by Fig. 3, is produced by bending an elongated strip of metal horizontally so as to form a pair of sides 12 and 13 connected together at their lower ends as by the bent-portion at 14, head being formed with an opening by cutting away or slotting naled in and between said sides 12 and 13 is a pair of grooved sheaves 16 which constitute equivalents of the abutting curved flange portions connecting plates 2 and 3 at their concaved edges.

Assuming that the clothes line 17 is supported at its ends as usual, and it is desired to support the same at an intermediate point, the head of the prop is caused to engage the line, being fitted easily on the line because its l'laring mouth readily receives it. \Vheu thus arranged the line extends be tween the sides of the head and across the opening in an obvious manner.

The line tension mechanism is constructed as follows: 18 indicates a substantially rectangular collar of somewhat greater size than and fitted loosely on the prop, and provided at the same side of the prop as the heath-with laterally projecting handles 19 and with a cylindrical central portion 20 between the handles, and pivoted to said cylindrical portion is a hook 21.

To tension the line, the collar is slid upward on the prop until the hook can be swung through the opening of the head above the line where the latter passes through the head. The operator then grasps the handles 19 and pulls downward upon the same, this action doubling and pulling the line downward, and because of the resistance of the line, tending to position the collar at right angles to the prop so that it may slip freely downward on the latter, this downward movement being continued until the line is drawn taut. The operator then releases the handles and the back-pull of the line instantly pivotally operates the collar and draws it to an angular position on the prop so that its front and rear sides shall bind tightly against the corresponding .t'des of the prop and thus provide an absolute guard against relaxing of the line. It will be apparent that when the tightening device is moved downward, the line will be plate 13 and portion 14 as at 15, and jour- 's es bent around and slide freely on the areshaped portions of the head in the one case or the grooved sheaves in the other, and that the slippage of the line occurs without injuring it in the least. W hen it is desired to relax the line the operator grasps the handle to utilize the lower end of the hook as a pivot to swing the collar upward to a position substantially at right angles to the length of the prop, and the tension of the line or an upward push on the collar, effects the upward movement of the latter and the relaxing of the line so that it can be readily disengaged froin the head of the prop.

From the above description it will be apparent that l have produced a combined clothes line prop and tightener which enibodies the desirable features enumerated and which is susceptible of modification in minor particulars without departing from the principle and scone or sacrificing any of the advantages of the appended claims.

Haring thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. 3r pro-p provided with a head embodying a pair of sides spaced apart and connected at their lower ends at opposite sides of their centers, and means adjust-able on the prop. to engage a clothes line extending through the head between its sides, for the purpose of doubling the line and drawing the doubled portion downward on the prop.

2. A prop provided with head enibodying a pair of sides spaced apart and connected at their lower ends at opposite sides of their centers. ineans adjustable on the prop, to engage a clothes line extending tlll'lllg'll the head between its sides, for the purpose of doubling the line and drawing the doubled portion downward on the prop, and means for securing said firstnanied means at the desired point of adjustment on the prop.

A prop provided with a head embodying a pair of sides spaced apartand connected at their lower ends at opposite sides of their centers, urea s adjustable on the prop, to engage a clothes line extending through the head between its sides, for the purpose of doubling the line and drawing the doubled portion downward on the prop, and a collar slidable on the prop and pivotally connected at its front side to the means for doubling the line.

-l-. A prop provided with a head embodying a pair of sides spaced apart and connected at their lower ends at opposite sides of their centers, a collar slidable on the prop, and a hook pivoted at its lower end to the front side of the collar and adapted at its upper end to engage a clothes line extending through the head between its sides.

.3. A. prop provided with a head embodying a pair of sides spaced apart and connected at their lower ends at opposite sides of their centers, one of said sides being provided with an opening extending through its lower margin and formed between said connections, a hook adapted to be swung through said opening and hooked down upon a line extendiin through the head between the sides of the same, and to be drawn downward to double the line and draw the doubled portion downward through the lower end of the head, and nieansto clamp said hook at the desired point of adjustment on the prop.

6. A prop provided with a head embodying a pair sices spaced apart and connected at their lower ends at opposite sides of their centers, one of said sides being provided with an opening extending through its lower margin and formed between said connections, a hook adapted to be swung through uaid opening and hooked down upon a line extending through the head between the sides of the same and to be drawn down and to double the line and draw the doubled portion downward through the lower end of the head, and a collar slidably mounted on the prop and capable of assuming an angular relation thereto, and pivoted at its front side to the lower end of said hook.

In testimony whereof I my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

OLQF R. OLSON.

ll'itnesses H. U. Rooonns, G. Y. Trronrn. 

